The purpose of the current investigation was to evaluate the influence of antimycin A (AA) as an activator of the alternative respiratory pathway (AP) on photosynthetic pigment composition and functional activity of the photosynthetic apparatus of wheat seedlings (Triticum aestivum L.) under exposure to high temperature as well as their acclimation. Our results indicated that a significant decrease (44-74%) of photosynthetic pigment contents was caused by a long-term exposure to high temperature (42°C), while the short-term exposure resulted in 20-46% decline. However, a combined effect of AA and long-term high temperature reduced the total pigment contents by 28-41%. Our results demonstrated that the reduction of the chlorophyll a/b ratio was less significant under the combined effect of AA and high temperature than that under the stressful condition without AA. We observed that short-term and long-term high temperature modified PSII functionality of the first leaves in wheat seedlings, which was manifested by the low maximal quantum yield of PSII photochemistry, maximum fluorescence yield in the dark-adapted state, and by high minimum fluorescence yield in the dark-adapted state. The quantum yield of PSII photochemistry decreased rapidly by 16-24% under the combination of AA and high temperature. Overall, these results suggest that the activation of the alternative pathway, induced by AA, contributed to the stabilization of the photosynthetic apparatus in wheat seedlings under high temperature., A. Batjuka, N. Škute, A. Petjukevičs., and Obsahuje bibliografii
This research is a follow-up to the previous research which was dealing with the creation of the simulation of the vocal cords function using FEM. This paper focuses on how the vocal cords function is affected by Bernoulli's effect, while using model [1] is used. It is well known, that Bernoulli's effect is connected with the suction in the air space between the vocal cords. This is caused by the high air flow in glottis. The fastest and easiest way how to eliminate the influence of this effect is the change of every negative air pressure on the vocal cords to zero (i.e. the pressure applied as the loads on the vocal cords). Authors of some vocal cords models presume that Bernoulli's effect is the main force causing vocal cords vibrations. Changing the negative pressures to zero should cause that the vocal cords would not vibrate. However, the results of this research show the opposite. and Obsahuje seznam literatury
In order to utilize the absolute gravity ( AG) measurements in terms of tectonic study it is necessary to reduce all disturbing environmental and instrumental effects. Many of those can be easily modelled and this step is done routinely during measurements (i.e. tide, polar motion, ocean tidal loading). Other remains in data and there is a lack of conventional models for them. Significant gravity variation is associated with changes of soil water at global scale. We study this effect for the Lower Silesia (South-western Poland) territory. Computed gravity changes can reach up to 2 μgal peak-to-peak amplitude with seasonal time scale. This effect is beyond of accuracy of modern ballistic gravimeter. Using real data collected with FG5 gravimeter we show here that neglecting of this phenomenon can lead to serious misinterpretation in term of secular gravity changes. This is emphasized especially when only sparse data of a few year time span is at our disposal. No attempt of modelling of local hydrology impact on effect was made, while in this study we concentrate on large scale water storage influence on measured gravity., Marcin Rajner, Tomasz Olszak, Jerzy Rogowski and Janusz Walo., and Obsahuje bibliografické odkazy
Test stand for investigation of the influence of bearing bushing movement control on behaviour of a rigid rotor supported in sliding journal bearings was designed. The stand was equipped with two pairs of piezoactuators, enabling to move each bearing bushing in two directions, and with two pairs of relative sensors tracing shaft movement at both bearings. The initial tests showed quite unexpected phenomena, which should be cleared up, before experiments with controlled bearing bushing movement could be started. Finally the system began to operate according to predictions and it was possible to start intended experiments. Some results of the rotor behaviour with and without piezoactuator action are presented.
One of the basic questions related to the safety of dikes and river levees is the size of the freeboard. One of the important parameters for freeboard design is the height of waves and wave run-up on levee slopes. Routine and standardised calculations of wave run-up deal with the freeboards of dams where wind waves originate on the still water of the reservoir. In the case of running water in streams (thereinafter only ''currents'') the effect of wave and current interaction on wave run-up is usually not taken into account due to the lack of reliable knowledge regarding the phenomenon. In the Czech Republic this question is topical in the case of large rivers such as the Elbe, the Vltava and the Morava. Within the framework of the projects Hydralab III and NAZV QI 92A139, hydraulic research and further analysis focused on wave run-up as a result of the combination of current and wind wave parameters were performed. The laboratory research was carried out in a hydraulic flume with a wavemaker on the right bank and a levee with a slope of 1:3 installed on the left bank opposite the wavemaker. Waves were generated both perpendicular and oblique to the levee axis; the angle of oblique wave attack varied within the range of ± 30°. The aim of this paper is to compare the results of the mentioned research with recommendations mentioned in the Czech National Standard CSN 75 0255 Calculation of wave effects on water structures and to quantify the effect of current on the wave run-up height. and Jednou ze základních otázek spojených s bezpečností hráze je návrh převýšení její koruny nad maximální hladinou vzdouvané vody. Důležitým parametrem ovlivňujícím návrh převýšení je výška vln vybíhajících po svahu hráze. Běžné postupy výpočtu výšky výběhu vlny na svah jsou realizovány za předpokladu, že vlny vznikají na stojatých vodách. Vliv proudění se obvykle vzhledem k nízké úrovni znalostí tohoto jevu na tekoucích vodách zanedbává. V podmínkách České Republiky je otázka vlivu proudění na výšku výběhu relevantní zejména na velkých tocích jako Labe, Vltava nebo Morava. V rámci projektů Hydralab III a NAZV QI 92A139 byl uskutečněn hydraulický výzkum a analýza dat se speciálním zaměřením na výšku výběhu větrových vln při započtení vlivu proudění. Výzkum byl realizován na modelu hráze se sklonem svahu 1 : 3, který byl umístěn ve zkušební nádrži osazené vlnoproduktorem vedeným rovnoběžně s modelem hráze. Vlny zde byly generovány jednak kolmo vzhledem k podélné ose hráze, jednak šikmo v rozsahu úhlů ± 30°. Výsledky výzkumu byly porovnány s doporučeními uvedenými v České státní normě ČSN 75 0255 Výpočet účinků vln na stavby na vodních nádržích a zdržích.
Influence of the pattern of effective rainfall on modeled hydrograph was investigated in the study. The modelling was performed with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers hydrograph package HEC-HMS 3.2 and calibrated and validated on measured hydrographs of Glinscica watershed. Six different models of rainfall loss were applied and their effect on modeled hydrograph was evaluated. Peak discharge, time of peak discharge and runoff volume were compared. The best results with the lowest RMSE in the study was obtained with the SCS curve number loss method. Also synthetic hyetographs of different probability and duration were used. Three positions of the maximum rainfall intensity at 25, 50 and 75 % of the rainfall duration were applied. The results showed essential differences in simulated time to peak and also differences in peak discharge. The differences in time to peak increases considerably with the increasing of the rainfall duration. Finally, the results of constant intensity distribution of rainfall of different durations were compared with those obtained with typical rainfall distribution with the position of the maximum intensity at 50 %. Results showed considerable differences in peak discharge and time to peak by longer durations of the rainfall. and Práca obsahuje výsledky výskumu vplyvu efektívnych zrážok na modelovaný hydrograf. Odtok bol modelovaný pomocou nástroja U.S. Army Corps of Engineers hydrograph package HEC-HMS 3.2, potom kalibrovaný a verifikovaný na meraných hydrografoch povodia Glinscica. Vplyv zrážok na modelovaný hydrograf bol vypočítaný pre šesť rôznych modelov priebehu zrážok. Porovnali sme maximálne prietoky, časy ich trvania a odtečené množstvá. Najlepšie výsledky s najnižším RMSE sme získali s SCS modelom odtoku. Použili sme tiež syntetické hyetografy rozdielnej pravdepodobnosti a trvania. Použili sa tri polohy maximálnych intenzít zrážok; pre 25, 50 a 75 % ich trvania. Výsledky ukázali zásadný rozdiel v simulovaných časoch maximálneho prietoku a tiež rozdiely v maximálnych prietokoch. Rozdiely v časoch dosiahnutia maximálnych odtokov sa výrazne zvyšovali s časom trvania zrážky. Nakoniec sme porovnali výsledky výpočtov s konštantnými intenzitami rozdelenia s rôznym trvaním zrážky s tými, ktoré boli vypočítané s použitím typických rozdelení, s polohou maximálnej intenzity zrážok pri 50 % ich trvania. Výsledky ukazujú významné rozdiely v maximálnych prietokoch a v časoch ich dosiahnutia v závislosti od trvania zrážky.
The influence of increased solar UV-B radiation on the photosynthetic characteristics in cowpea seedlings (Vigna unguiculata) grown at optimal (Mgs) and low (Mgd) Mg levels were studied. Both higher UV-B and Mgd treatments caused significant drops of photochemical activities and net CO2 uptake rates (PN). Yet the UV-B-induced decrease in the photosynthetic efficiency was lesser in Mgd seedlings. The leaf Chl a fluorescence measurements proved that after receiving an enhanced UV-B radiation these seedlings showed a significant enhancement in their variable parts. The PSM oscillation of slow fluorescence kinetics was remarkably altered by both treatments. The PN also followed a typical inhibitory pattern as seen in photochemical activities. Concentrations of several chloroplast proteins in trifoliate leaves were significantly reduced by Mgd treatment and unaffected by the other two treatments. Whereas the contents of 43-47 kDa polypeptides in primary leaves were markedly reduced with a maximal effect in Mgd seedlings, no major difference was noted for combined stress. and A. Premkumar, G. Kulandaivelu.
To further investigate the role of insulin during preimplantation embryo development, we compared the effects of insulin on the development of mouse and bovine preimplantation embryos and on cell proliferation during culture in vitro in simplex media. The influence of insulin on the development of mouse zygotes was determined during cultivation in mSOF medium, alone or supplemented with glucose. Similarly, the effects of insulin on the bovine preimplantation embryo development were studied in mSOF medium. The addition of insulin into mSOF medium enhanced significantly the number of cells per mouse blastocyst. Moreover, when mSOF medium was supplemented with insulin and 0.2 mmol.l-1 glucose, the percentage of hatched blastocysts and the mean cell number of mouse blastocysts were significantly higher. Insulin had no significant effect on the development of bovine embryos, produced by in vitro fertilization of in vitro matured oocytes. Neither the rates of developing embryos nor the mean number of cells in blastocysts were different in comparison with control embryos. Our results suggest that the in vitro development of mouse embryos could be enhanced by the addition of insulin to the culture medium and is further improved by the addition of glucose. In contrast to this our results indicate that insulin has no detectable beneficial effect on the preimplantation development of bovine embryos in mSOF medium., J. Mihalik, P. Rehák, J. Koppel., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The present study focuses on the possible influence of large-scale climatic patterns on precipitation, temperature, and discharge in two distinct river basins in the Czech Republic. The first one is a flat lowland basin of the Cidlina River and the second one represents a more mountainous type of climate (the Blanice River). The large-scale climatic patterns used comprise monthly averages of teleconnection patterns, sea level pressure values, and two geopotential heights (850 hPa and 500 hPa). The correlations for corresponding months and also up to a three months lead time were investigated. The relations concerning the corresponding months proved to be most reliable in the winter period of the year. The behaviour of both selected river basins with respect to these predictors is rather similar in character. However, higher values of correlation coefficients are reached in the case of the Cidlina River basin. Considering the prediction abilities with a certain lead time, the results seem to be more promising for the winter and spring periods in both basins. In the Cidlina River basin, they are likely to be beneficial also for the late summer and autumn period.
Net CO2 exchange rate (PN) of shoots and diel fluctuations in titratable acidity of leaves of Senecio rowleyanus were measured to determine whether penetration of radiant energy through leaf "windows" (narrow, translucent strips on the leaf epidermis) resulted in increased CAM. Nocturnal PN and nighttime increases in acidity were compared among plants with windows covered with reflective adhesive tape, transparent adhesive tape (to control for potential effects of the adhesive), and no tape. The windows did not significantly enhance the degree of CAM in S. rowleyanus. and K. J. Egbert, C. E. Martin.